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Mining Project Evaluation

Environmental issues and others that influence the sustainability of development and progress in emerging markets are often perceived as peripheral. As is the case in South Africa, a lack of awareness and understanding about the interdependence of society, the economy and the environment is striking. Environmental and social practitioners, therefore,...

In January 2008 SRK took on the role of Independent Engineer (IE) for the project financing for Mirabela Nickel’s Santa Rita project located in Bahia state, Brazil. The Santa Rita project is an open pit mine with a conventional nickel sulfide concentrator. Initially, it was based on a proven and...

SRK recently completed a comprehensive Due Diligence (DD) study on a complex mining operation in Southern Africa. The copper mining operation consists of a complex array of surface and underground ore production operations together with primary and secondary beneficiation facilities. SRK’s approach to DD studies is to involve professional staff...

In Brazil mining is energised by a supportive economic and political environment. As South America’s leading economy, Brazil is rich in history and culture, with a combination of geography, population and economy that only a few countries such as the USA and China share. Brazil ranks among the world’s top-five...

Over the last 15 years, the importance of environmental, social and closure issues in the evaluation of mineral properties (MPE) has significantly changed. While once these issues were generally considered insignificant, they have evolved into an integral component of most MPEs. Many investors have specific environmental, social and closure standards...

The Iron Mountain project is located near Cedar City, Utah. The District was discovered in 1849 by Mormon Pioneers, and the iron deposits were mined almost continuously from 1851 to 1995, producing an estimated 88.2Mt. The new board of Palladon Ventures Ltd, the current owner, commissioned SRK to review the...

SRK was commissioned by a Chinese company to review a copper project located in East Africa. The objectives of the review were to use the data provided to analyse and provide summaries of the results for the client, and comment on any material flaws detected in the project. The SRK...

The valuation of exploration projects that do not contain defined resources is complex, as consideration must be made of both technical and market factors. Technical factors include the level of geological understanding of the project area, the targeted mineralisation style, and the distribution and magnitude of mineralisation indicators defined by...

Trekkopje is the site of a green fields project, consisting of a very large, low-grade, shallow uranium resource hosted in calcium carbonate cemented (calcrete) conglomerates. It rests in the arid desert region of western Namibia, in southwestern Africa, situated in gently sloping terrain. Trekkopje will be an open pit operation,...

Since 2003 to the present, SRK has partnered with JSC Polymetal in its annual declarations of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The declarations meet the terms and definitions in the 2004 Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore reserves – the JORC Code, an internationally recognised...

The short answer to this important question is Yes – SRK brings value to clients, licence holders and advisers during the due diligence process, whether it involves an IPO, purchase, sale, or borrowing. We are able to do this because of the experience, breadth of knowledge, and communication skills of...

SRK has been evaluating minerals projects in southern West Kalimantan Indonesia for the past four years. This work has been focussed primarily on advising various clients on exploration and development programs for iron ore. Iron mineralisation in this region is hosted predominantly within shales which have been hydrothermally altered and...

The Red Mountain Project near Stewart, British Columbia has been the subject of extensive exploration and development activities since 1989. Seabridge Gold Inc. (“Seabridge”) acquired the Red Mountain Project in February 2002 to provide exceptional returns to shareholders by maximising leverage to the gold price that was expected to rise...

With the significant increase in the gold price over the last several years, some smaller mines have had the opportunity to become bigger mines. Capital Gold Corporation’s El Chanate heap leach gold mine, located in the Sonoran desert of Mexico is one such operation. Subsequent to completion of SRK’s Independent...

In connection with the acquisition of Falconbridge Ltd., the integration planning team of Xstrata plc commissioned SRK to provide technical guidance for the evaluation of Falconbridge’s exploration assets. SRK’s assignment was to complete a desktop review of Falconbridge’s greenfield exploration assets with a view towards summarising the characteristics of the...

PT Indo Rak Resources (RAK), a subsidiary of Middle East Coal and a joint owner of the Marwa Wahau deposit along with PT TOP, commissioned SRK to undertake a feasibility study of the property. The thermal coal greenfield project, sitting over a large resource, is poised to be one of...

Talvivaara is a Greenfield mine development, located in eastern Finland. It is the first application of the bio-heap leaching process for the economic exploitation of low-grade, nickel-zinc sulphide ore bodies. Although not yet in full production, Talvivaara already stands out for using new, innovative technology and for the speed at...

SRK has been involved with the Talvivaara project since 2006. SRK was appointed by Talvivaara to prepare a Mineral Experts Report for listing on the London Stock Exchange, and subsequently by Standard Bank Plc to prepare a Technical Audit Report for debt finance. Additionally SRK has prepared a revised JORC...

SRK began its relationship with Minto Exploration Ltd. (a 100%-owned subsidiary of Capstone Mining Corp.) in 2006, when it conducted a due diligence review of the Minto copper-gold-silver mine project for a major bank. At that time, the company had just completed a feasibility study and was fast-tracking construction at...

During 2009, SRK took on several compliance audits for project funders. Through this work, SRK witnessed mines move from merely aiming for compliance with in-country environmental legislation to adopting good practice as outlined in the Equator Principles and other guidelines. Mining companies and financial organisations are working to achieve international...

Allied Nevada Gold Corp. was formed in 2006 after purchasing a portfolio of over 100 precious metal prospects in Nevada (NV). Their flagship property, Hycroft, located 60 miles west of Winnemucca, NV, was reactivated after a 10-year dormancy period to establish cash flow to fund on-site exploration and to develop...

The picturesque Serra da Canastra Kimberlite Province in southwest Minas Gerais is one of several diamondiferous locations in Brazil. The kimberlite bodies are mostly buried along the extensive valley floors and beneath scree deposits. The region has produced approximately 2 million carats of diamonds since the mid-1930s. SRK and Mineral...

When evaluating projects in Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries, a key challenge is that their data and technical studies have been developed following resource reporting guidelines that differ from the standards many international investors or consultants use. SRK has been involved in CIS projects for many years and has...

In 2006, Sino Gold Limited commissioned SRK to provide an Independent Expert Report on the mines and exploration assets of the company, with the report intended to be submitted to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx). Sino Gold was already listed on the Australian Stock Exchange but wanted...

A fundamental part of SRK’s approach to project evaluation is the recognition that many of the risk areas associated with mining projects are driven by lack of understanding of the geology of the deposit in question. Typically, there is significant focus on the impact of geology on the resource. This...

Anvil Mining Limited, a public company listed on the Toronto and Australian Stock Exchanges, is engaged in exploring and developing base metals mineral properties in Southern Africa. Anvil’s principal development asset, the Kinsevere Copper Project, is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is managed via its 95% interest...